Reykjavik Redux

Not the first monument in the boonies we've seen this trip

Mated pair of elves

In Iceland Ila and I left no STONE un-turned in investigating the existence of the ever secretive Icelandic elves. True, we're BOULDER than most in presenting such cryptozoological evidence, but there you go!

A lone Bull Elf

No really. Whether you believe us ORE not, we saw these 3 elves right out in the open. These photos are absolute, ROCK solid proof of the existence of Elves on Iceland.




That's enough of that.

Today we completed the last of Iceland's Ring Road, which took us back to Reykjavik. We saw a lot on our way aside from wayward elves.

The weather was sunny today and it was a great birding day.

Barnacle & Pink Footed Geese

The Barnacle Geese are stunning birds

Pony-tailed Tufted Ducks and a couple of Slovian Grebes aka Eared Grebes at the rear

We passed a cute valley where there was a circular coral for sheep sorting on a ranch.

Sheep sorting pens in Réttir, a northern valley

North Atlantic scenery or Wyoming interior shot? You tell me!

Right around the time we viewed the elves crossing the roadway (or was I just sleepy and imagined it all?) a sign featuring a massive seal stood.






A Seal Center! Sounded like a 'must happen' side trip to me. So off we drove to the town of Hvammstangi.

Our time at the Seal Center was brief. There was a souvenir shop and Ila gave me a gift of a cool book on unusual foods of Iceland.

Then being eager to see the seal exhibit, I bought a 5 Krona ticket to it. I took one step into the show area and froze - could NOT force myself to move forward into exhibit that featured taxidermied seals. Sheepishly, I backed out. The ticket vendor lady told me I wasn't the first person to freeze, unable to enter the exhibit area. I've often heard people say they felt 'negative energy' and boy howdy, I now know what they mean. Talk about unexpected & discombobulating experiences.

Photo of stuffed, 'Claire-repellent' seals at the center (taken from center website)

 On our way back out of Hvammstangi we stopped a likely wool goodies target area.

It was the Kidka wool factory. There was a little shopping area up front with woolen garments and thingmabobs, and a HUGE wool factory in the rear or the building. We were welcomed to enter the factory work floor for a look around. 

Someone gave into temptation, buying the largest sized T-shirt they had, all about the volcano that erupted in 2010

The remainder of the trek to Reykjavik was fun, with continuing bouts of spectacular scenery.









We stopped for lunch as a nifty restaurant/hotel that raised its own veggies, cattle and piggies.
There, we enjoyed what is arguably the best hamburger I've ever eaten. They raise their own veggies and burgers on the hoof.



The same restaurant featured artwork by the entrance, on the numerous types of fairy tale/cryptic/indigenous beings of Iceland. I took photos of all the beings because they were too interesting/cute to ignore.

Here's one of the wee folk.There are many different species, living in hillocks, mounds and rocks. There are 6 different types of elf beings. They make use of physical matter to bond to the environment but appear on the mental plane.

Hermits are hairy, dwarf-like and appear to be ancient. The Hermit here at Hraunsnef is around 300 years old and he is this area's guardian. He is solitary and needs to be approached with respect and care as he does not like to be disturbed when he is immersed in his reading. But do try to have a quick peek into his abode.







Driving back to Reykjavik took us through the 2nd... 3rd? Long Massive tunnel with a tunnel fee of a whopping 10 Krona.


 Once in the tunnel, it seemed to go on forever. I joked that the fee was 'one Krona per mile'. After five minutes, I decided my joke was truth!

It took us 7 minutes to get through the tunnel

Following our 'tunnel' adventure, we made it back to Reykjvik. There we claimed our room at the 'City Park Hotel'. Checked in, we were off again for a stroll downtown.

Downtown Reykjavik

View towards the Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean

Old timey whimey view of downtown Reykjavik

There are many Murals

Lots...

and lots of murals

The I DON'T SPEAK ICELANDIC souvenir Store

I love this poster in a store window

Wow. How often do you see Martin Luther toys?

This has been a long post, apropos for a long day - and we only have one more full day to enjoy here. We had dinner at a deli around the corner from our hotel. It served simple, local food, and we figured it was good food as there were several off duty Iceland policemen eating there, as well as many bachelors. I must say, we were the best looking women in the joint!